This is the second semester of a three-semester, calculus-based physics sequence. A required prerequisite is PS 150 - Physics I for Engineers, and the following course is PS 250 - Physics III for Engineers. We will cover special theory of relativity, rotational motion; conservation of angular momentum; simple harmonic motion waves, fluids, heat, kinetic theory, thermodynamics. Prerequisite: PS 150, Co-requisite: MA 242.
Text: University Physics, 11th
edition,
by Young and Freedman.
Chapters 9-20, 37
See the syllabus
for more detailed information.
Recommendations for study.
Challenging problems for extra credit.
Example
problem
solution (9.62)
High-speed
photos
shock
wave
tennis ball
& racket
WELCOME!
The skill to do math on
a page
Has declined to the point of outrage
Equations quadratica
Are solved on Math'matica,
And on birthdays we don't know our age
Binary
Stars
Alexander
Calder
Ancient
Lake
Bonneville
Earth's
crust
Post Glacial
Rebound of the Earth's Crust
Earthquake
effects
Boyle's
Law (Boyle)
Charles'
Law (Charles)
Avogadro's Law (Avogadro)
Gas
Laws
more Guided
Tours
Aristotle's
PHYSICS
(or here)
Philosophy
of
Nature, by Ian Thompson
Thomas Aquinas
(or here)
The Galileo Project
Tutorials
The
Physics Hypertext
Hyperphysics
Active
Physics
ThinkQuest
|
|
Exam
schedule (tentative) |
|
|
Exam |
Date |
Chapters
in Young |
|
1 |
Thursday, Feb 3 |
9, 10, 11.1-11.3 |
|
2 |
Tuesday, Mar 1 |
13, 15, 16 |
|
3 |
Thursday, Mar 31 |
11.4, 12, 14, 37 |
|
4 |
Thursday, Apr 28 |
17, 18, 19, 20 |
|
Final |
Saturday, Apr 30 |
9-20, 37 |
Listening to lectures is not enough. All processes of learning are somehow connected to active participation, and the learning of physics is no exception. Therefore, it is imperative that you work diligently at your own desk. However, this does not mean that you should only work alone. I encourage you to form study groups and collaborate with your classmates.
Available at the Jack R. Hunt Library are the following items:
Understanding
Physics, by Isaac Asimov - a great science fiction writer
explains
physics.
Cartoon Guide
to Physics, by Gonick and Huffman - physical principles in a
visual format.
3000 Physics
Problems - lots and lots of practice quantitative problems.
Practice at problem solving is an important part of learning physics, especially for engineers. I suggest that you work as many problems as possible. I have assigned problems from each chapter, and I will post solutions to certain problems from the text. Problem solving techniques can be found here.
